Metro-North assessing damage to Port Jervis line

A team of engineers hired by New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Railroad is inspecting and assessing the catastrophic flood damage to the Port Jervis Line. Meanwhile buses are providing alternative service for the 2,300 people who normally use the line each weekday.

Following through on MTA Chairman Jay Walder's promise to expedite rebuilding the devastated line, work began last week on an on-the-ground assessment of damage from the storm and a final condition assessment report is expected by the end of the month.

AECOM of New York City began a conditions analysis of track and structures along 14 of the hardest hit miles of the right-of-way, as well as a hydrology study of the area. Their sub-consultant, Systra of New York City, is assessing all railroad communications and signal systems and M.G. McLaren of West Nyack, another sub-consultant, will assess damage to the rail bridges in the affected area. AECOM was issued a Notice to Proceed for emergency work, not-to exceed $500,000.

Significant damage to the line identified last week by an aerial inspection includes up to 40 washout locations including three washouts each at least a thousand feet long near Sloatsburg, a 400-foot section of track washed out just south of Sloatsburg, significant damage to several railroad bridges and exposure of what had been a subterranean signal cable.

Metro-North Railroad is studying its options to improve service during the long repair work ahead.